Switchblade Symphony was a San Francisco, United States–based band which was formed in 1989 by composer Susan Wallace and vocalist Tina Root. They released their first album in 1995 on the Cleopatra Records label. They also had two live guitarists, first Robin Jacobs (who later joined Razor Skyline) and then George Earth, and two live drummers, first Eric Gebow (now with Blue Man Group) and then Scott van Shoick.

Switchblade Symphony's music combined orchestral sounds with heavy synth sequences and ethereal vocals to create a highly original sound resembling The Flower Duet sung over a twisted union of classical music and gothic rock. The band's name refers to this union, the result of cutting up elements of classical music to mix them with harder sounds. Though this sound is uncommon, it might be compared with Rhea's Obsession, Siouxsie, Cindergarden, The Machine in the Garden and Dead Can Dance.

Switchblade Symphony disbanded in November 1999. Subsequently, Tina Root started Tre Lux.In 2008 Tina Root and George Earth formed SmallHalo. Small Halo is based out of L.A. and are working on an upcoming EP.

Discography

• Full-length albums and EPs
  • Serpentine Gallery, 1995
  • Scrapbook, 1997 (out of print)
  • Bread and Jam for Frances, 1997
  • The Three Calamities, 1999
  • Sinister Nostalgia, 2001 (remixes)
  • Sweet Little Witches, 2003 (live performances and video track)
  • Serpentine Gallery Deluxe, 2005
• Singles
  • Clown, 1996
  • Drool, 1997
• Other
  • Fable, 1991 (out of print demo cassette)
  • Elegy, 1992 (out of print demo cassette)
  • Girlscout (single) (recorded with Jack Off Jill), 1998
• Compilations
  • From The Machine, featured the song: "Mine Eyes" (Index Records, 1990)
  • Gothic Rock Volume 2: 80's Into 90's, 1995
  • Gothik, 1995 (re-released in 2006)
  • Wired Injections, 1996
  • Gothic Divas Presents: Switchblade Symphony, Tre Lux, and New Skin (Cleopatra, 2006)
  • Psycho Tina's Hell House Of Horrors, featured the song "Witches (Live)" (Cleopatra, )

Notes

External links

• Tre Lux - Tina Root's new band
• Cleopatra Records - Switchblade Symphony's record label